Research support

ARC Discovery Projects

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Outcomes for Discovery Projects 2025 are anticipated to be released 20-29 November 2024

Key dates for ARC Discovery Projects 2026

The dates provided below are indicative only and may be subject to change.

Expression of Interest Applications

  • EOI Applications open in RMS: 31 October 2024
  • UQ EOI information session: 13 November 2024
  • UQ Notice of Intent due to Research Office: 15 November 2024
  • EOI applications due to Research Office: 18 November 2024
  • Requests Not to Assess due to Research Office: 19 November 2024
  • Requests Not to Assess close with ARC: 26 November 2024
  • EOI Applications close with ARC: 13 December 2024
  • Anticipated EOI Outcomes announcement: 26-28 February 2025

Full Applications

  • Full Applications open in RMS: 5 March 2025
  • Full Application Information Session: TBC
  • Full Applications due to the Research Office: TBC
  • Full Applications close with the ARC: 16 April 2025
  • Anticipated Full Application announcement: 16-30 October 2025

Rejoinders

Overview

The ARC Discovery Projects scheme provides funding to support excellent basic and applied research projects by individuals or teams. The scheme provides funding between $30,000 and $500,000 per year for up to five consecutive years to encourage research and research training in high-quality environments, support international collaboration in research, and enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas.

The Discovery Project scheme runs in a two-stage application process. Applicants will submit an Expression of Interest in RMS which is then assessed by the ARC College of Experts. Shortlisted projects will be invited to submit a full application. 

UQ Information Sessions

To assist the research community in preparing their Discovery Program applications, the Research Office will hold information sessions at EOI and Full Application stages (see above for dates and links).

These sessions will include information on application requirements, tips for writing your project description, tips in budget crafting and Full Application, and a Q&A with College of Experts members.

Slides and recordings of both information sessions will be made available on our Presentations and slides page. 

   

ARC Webinars

On 29 November 2023, the ARC held a webinar on how to pitch a DP EOI. A copy of the session recording can be found on the ARC YouTube Page. A copy of the webinar slides is also available for download How to Pitch an EOI combined slides (PDF, 1.5 MB)

On 21 December 2023, the ARC held a webinar on the Two-Stage Process for Discovery Projects 2025, taking a deep dive into what the EOI application form looks like, and how EOIs will be assessed. A copy of the session recording can be found on the ARC YouTube Page. 

How to apply

Internal Notice of Intent process

All researchers intending to submit an ARC DP application for funding in 2026 are required to submit an internal Notice of Intent by the date indicated above.  NOIs will be collated centrally and distributed to Faculties and Institutes to provide maximum support to the UQ research community.

Step 1. RMS updates and scheme reading

  • Update your full profile in RMS ‘Person Profile’. If any team members are new to RMS and need a login/password, start early.
  • Familiarise yourself with the key Australian Research Council (ARC) and UQ documentation. It is especially important to familiarise yourself with ARC's Grant Guidelines and Instructions to Applicants documents. 

Step 2. Completing the application

  • Log into RMS, create an application and make sure UQ is listed as the Administering Organisation. 
  • Use the UQ templates available below to draft your documents to be uploaded to your application in RMS.
  • Complete the application in RMS. 
  • When ready for review, ensure all online components are complete and valid, generate a whole application PDF for your records and select 'Submit to Research Office' in RMS.

Step 3. UQR&I internal review and feedback

  • To initiate review, email UQ Research Office at arc-discovery@research.uq.edu.au. Please note that RMS does not alert the Research Office when you create or submit an application in RMS. 
  • Include your completed UQ Application Certification Form and UQ Pending and Newly Funded ARC grants form in your email. 
  • If you are lodging a 'Request Not to Assess' (RNTA), please complete the 'Request Not to Assess' form in RMS and then submit to the Research Office for review by the date stated in key dates above. Instructions for creating a RNTA will be made available on GrantConnect.
  • UQ Research Office will review your application and provide you with feedback.

Step 4. Final submission

  • When your application is complete and fully compliant, the UQ Research Office will submit the application to the ARC through RMS.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Key documents

ARC

Before applying, please review the full suite of documents available from GrantConnect, the Australian Government grants information system (login required). 

Additional ARC documents

UQ

Mandatory Forms

Templates

Additional Resources

UQ Library Support

Rejoinders and rebuttal

In the ARC assessment and rejoinder process, proposal comments from external assessors may be made available to applicants, and applicants given the opportunity to submit a rejoinder. Detailed information on the rejoinder process (including instructions for accessing assessment reports and submitting rejoinders) is available from the ARC website.

The Research Office has developed a Rejoinder Tip Sheet with FAQs (PDF, 407.6 KB) to assist you in crafting your rejoinder. 

UQ R&I Rejoinder Information Session

To assist researchers to prepare rejoinders, the Research Office holds rejoinder information sessions involving senior academics who have served on the ARC's College of Experts. A recording of this session will be made available on the UQ R&I presentations and slides webpage for those who are unable to attend.

Contact UQ R&I

Scheme queries

RMS queries

Round coordinators
Pre-award Discovery Team

If you are applying through UQ but you are not a current UQ staff member, please contact the round coordinator to be added to the UQ R&I mailing list.